Richard Treacy Henry
Encyclopedia
Richard Treacy Henry was a New Zealand
conservationist
and reserve manager who became an expert on the natural history
of flightless bird
s in New Zealand, especially the Kakapo
. Born in County Kildare
, Ireland
, his family migrated to Australia
in 1851 where he grew up. He moved to New Zealand in the 1870s, settling in the south-west at Lake Te Anau
in 1883 where he worked as a handyman, rabbiter, shepherd, taxidermist, boat-builder, explorer and guide, while studying the birdlife. He also began to write articles on natural history for the Otago Witness and other publications.
By 1891 public and governmental concern that introduced mustelids were having a devastating effect on New Zealand’s birdlife led to the gazettal of Resolution Island
in Fiordland
as a reserve. In 1894 Henry was appointed Curator and Caretaker of Resolution Island, a position he held for the next 14 years. Over this period he transported numerous flightless birds, including Kakapo, Weka
and Kiwi
to Resolution Island, with the hope that they would be safe there. Unfortunately, the attempted translocation of Kakapo was in vain as stoat
s reached the island around 1900 and Kakapo did not survive there. During the great war the NZ Government came and took the iron off Richards shed.
In 1908 increasing concern about Henry’s welfare, due to his age and his isolated position on Resolution, led to his being offered the caretakership of Kapiti Island
, a post which he accepted and occupied for the next three years, eventually retiring from government service in 1911. In 1912 he moved to Katikati
in the Bay of Plenty
where he lived until 1922 before moving for the last time to Helensville, north of Auckland
. He died in 1929 of senile decay and heart failure. Only the local Postmaster attended the Funeral.
One of the Kakapo, a male captured in Fiordland in 1975 and at that point the only remaining member of the species originating from the South Island, was named "Richard Henry" in his memory. This bird was found dead on 24 December 2010.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
and reserve manager who became an expert on the natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
of flightless bird
Flightless bird
Flightless birds are birds which lack the ability to fly, relying instead on their ability to run or swim. They are thought to have evolved from flying ancestors. There are about forty species in existence today, the best known being the ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea, kiwi, and penguin...
s in New Zealand, especially the Kakapo
Kakapo
The Kakapo , Strigops habroptila , also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand...
. Born in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, his family migrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1851 where he grew up. He moved to New Zealand in the 1870s, settling in the south-west at Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Its name was originally Te Ana-au, Maori for 'The cave of swirling water'. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island...
in 1883 where he worked as a handyman, rabbiter, shepherd, taxidermist, boat-builder, explorer and guide, while studying the birdlife. He also began to write articles on natural history for the Otago Witness and other publications.
By 1891 public and governmental concern that introduced mustelids were having a devastating effect on New Zealand’s birdlife led to the gazettal of Resolution Island
Resolution Island, New Zealand
Resolution Island is the largest island in Fiordland region of southwest New Zealand, covering a total of . It is the country's seventh largest island...
in Fiordland
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
as a reserve. In 1894 Henry was appointed Curator and Caretaker of Resolution Island, a position he held for the next 14 years. Over this period he transported numerous flightless birds, including Kakapo, Weka
Weka
The Weka or woodhen is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit...
and Kiwi
Kiwi
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world...
to Resolution Island, with the hope that they would be safe there. Unfortunately, the attempted translocation of Kakapo was in vain as stoat
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
s reached the island around 1900 and Kakapo did not survive there. During the great war the NZ Government came and took the iron off Richards shed.
In 1908 increasing concern about Henry’s welfare, due to his age and his isolated position on Resolution, led to his being offered the caretakership of Kapiti Island
Kapiti Island
-External links:* , Department of Conservation* * , Nature Coast Enterprise *...
, a post which he accepted and occupied for the next three years, eventually retiring from government service in 1911. In 1912 he moved to Katikati
Katikati
Katikati is a town located on the Uretara Stream near the tidal inlet opened by Matakana Island in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The nearest city is Tauranga, which is 40 kilometres to the southeast. Katikati lies 28 kilometres south of Waihi.Katikati was settled in 1875 by settlers from County...
in the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
where he lived until 1922 before moving for the last time to Helensville, north of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. He died in 1929 of senile decay and heart failure. Only the local Postmaster attended the Funeral.
One of the Kakapo, a male captured in Fiordland in 1975 and at that point the only remaining member of the species originating from the South Island, was named "Richard Henry" in his memory. This bird was found dead on 24 December 2010.
Publications
Richard Henry wrote many short articles on natural history for newspapers such as the Otago Witness and the Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, and for scientific journals such as the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, as well as letters and reports to his employers when working for the Department of Lands and Survey and the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. He also published a book:- Henry, R. (1903). The Habits of the Flightless Birds of New Zealand; With Notes on Other New Zealand Birds. Government Printer: Wellington.
Further reading
- Hill, Susanne; & Hill, John. (1987). Richard Henry of Resolution Island. John McIndoe: Dunedin. ISBN 0-86868-094-X